Chapter 151
The singer who first made a name for themselves with their 10th album.
The singer who once again stole the spotlight in the finals of a famous hip-hop competition.
The singer who graced the stage at Gocheok Sky Dome.
“Does it make sense that such a singer doesn’t have a proper album?”
Right after, Lee Joon’s remark that there’s no singer more peculiar than Pinocchio was undeniable.
Listening to it, something did feel off.
The only song released under the name Pinocchio was “T.R.E.N.D.” with Yoon Sihyuk.
And even that was part of a variety special, “Infinite Challenge Music Festival.”
“Shouldn’t there be at least one song that comes to mind when you think of Pinocchio?”
“Then let’s listen to some demos first. Tell me if something clicks.”
“Huh? Right now?”
“Strike while the iron is hot.”
And so, after being grabbed by the suddenly passionate Dublee,
I sat on the studio couch for a long time, listening to Dublee’s various demo melodies over and over.
However, Ha-eun’s solo album needed to be one that could neutralize the fierce image of Lee Ye-seo.
So, most of the melodies Ha-eun chose were bright and cheerful.
Perhaps that’s why.
“Hmm… I wish there was a calm ballad too.”
From Lee Joon, who was pondering the album’s overall balance, came several suggestions.
After all, he wanted to create a song that would showcase Ha-eun’s exceptional vocal skills to their fullest.
“You know, like singing by the Han River with an acoustic guitar, busking-style.”
“Uh, I don’t know how to play guitar though…”
“It’s just about the vibe.”
Either way, Dublee is a group of outstanding singers with multiple hit songs.
At the same time, they were the ones who knew Pinocchio best.
“Let’s add one emotional song. That’s fine, right?”
They were confident that if Ha-eun’s clear voice was utilized properly, it could create a masterpiece.
Ha-eun, who had been passive in her singing career for a long time, was finally being proactive, so they wanted to make the most of this opportunity.
The following discussion was about the album’s overall concept.
Only then could Ha-eun explain in more detail about Lee Ye-seo in “The Veterans” and the cosmetics CF with Rev.
“Villain? Ha-eun, you?”
“And as a psychopathic murderer?”
“…It’s already in the news.”
“I really didn’t know. I’ve been holed up in the studio.”
Lee Joon and Lee Gun-yeol acted as if Ha-eun’s appearance in “The Veterans” was breaking news.
Well, it’s not something you’d know unless you looked it up, so they decided to let it slide.
However, they had to properly explain the image Ha-eun wanted to create with this solo album.
It couldn’t clash too much with Rev’s cosmetics CF.
“If the CF contract gets terminated, the money we’d have to pay isn’t small. Honestly, it’s a bit scary.”
“How much?”
“In the billions.”
“…That’s scary.”
After further discussions, the overall concept of the album was decided to be “high school girl.”
The main emotions of the album were also those fresh and youthful feelings you can only experience during school days.
The idea for Pinocchio’s first music video came right after.
“Then, how about shooting it in a school uniform?”
“School uniform?”
“Yeah. Nothing beats a real school uniform.”
Honestly, it felt like things were moving forward at lightning speed.
Seeing melodies and ideas pour out like a flood for an album still in the conceptual stage was quite a sight.
That’s why I asked if the word “slump” Ha-eun mentioned a few hours ago was a lie.
Because the current Dublee didn’t seem to fit the three-letter word “slump.”
“Wasn’t the work stagnant?”
“It’s not our album, it’s yours.”
“Do you really think we didn’t have any ideas after watching you for over 10 years?”
In a way, it’s occupational hazard.
Or maybe just vague imagination.
Dublee’s concepts or fantasies had been in the works since Ha-eun was young.
It was preparation for when the girl who visited their studio every week would one day become a full-fledged singer.
That’s why the work on Ha-eun’s first album went smoothly.
Thanks to the ideas they’d been thinking about for over 10 years, they didn’t have to start from scratch.
“It should be done around April or May.”
“Huh? That’s fast.”
“It’s a mini-album. If we worked as hard as on a full album, it’d be done by fall.”
Coincidentally, the first anniversary of “Fantasy Land” and the release of Ha-eun’s first album were around the same time.
In other words, by the time of the first-anniversary live performance of “Fantasy Land,” Pinocchio’s first album would also be released.
‘Hmm…’
The possibility of Dia and Pinocchio, who released new songs around the same time, being compared wasn’t that low.
Even though their vocal tones and vibes were different, you never know.
That’s why Dia’s voice was refined to sound more youthful.
After all, the first-anniversary live of “Fantasy Land” was, as the name suggests, a live broadcast.
Live performances are inherently full of variables.
Since it’s not pre-recorded but performed in real-time, more thorough preparation was necessary.
Therefore.
“Can we do it just one more time?”
They started participating more passionately in the weekly Tuesday rehearsals for the first-anniversary performance.
The problem was that Ha-eun wasn’t the only one participating in the rehearsals.
The bigger issue was that among the “Fantasy Land” members, no one could keep up with Ha-eun’s stamina.
Perhaps that’s why.
“Ha, Ha-eun. My arms won’t go up…!”
“Maknae! Don’t overestimate the stamina of people who just do broadcasts in their rooms!”
“She’s a demon… That’s not a spirit, that’s a demon…”
“…Is this a rehearsal room or a hospital?”
Every time Ha-eun said “one more time,” groans echoed throughout the rehearsal room.
Yet, unfazed, Ha-eun pulled out a familiar pair of sunglasses.
“Yuna unnie is an individualist. No teamwork!”
“Isn’t the one with the least teamwork here you, Ha-eun…?”
“Woo─! Evil instructors, step down─!”
And so, for the first time in a while, Ha-eun transformed into a special instructor mode and pushed the other members hard.
The actual instructor just stood by and assisted Ha-eun.
This was because Ha-eun had already mastered all the choreography perfectly.
Either way, from the instructor’s perspective, there was no harm in practicing hard.
Therefore.
“Come on, come on. This is all for the fans of ‘Fantasy Land.’ Let’s do our best, everyone~.”
Instead of stopping Ha-eun, they pushed the “Fantasy Land” members just as hard.
Even though the members’ attitudes weren’t insincere, the instructor and Ha-eun’s enthusiasm was beyond that.
And so, the days continued with different voices singing in Dublee’s studio and “Fantasy Land’s” rehearsal room.
[The 3D avatar is done, Ha-eun. You need to see how it works, so can you come to the company when you have time?]
“Ah, yes. I’ll come first thing Saturday morning.”
Finally, Dia’s 3D avatar was completed.
The studio for the first-anniversary live performance of “Fantasy Land” was also almost ready.
And so, when the promised Saturday arrived.
“Can you raise your arm once?”
-Swish.
“Good. Now, walk around once.”
Ha-eun had to move around the studio like a moving articulated doll.
This was because during the last group trip to Japan, it was revealed that Ha-eun’s motor skills were far beyond Ji Hyemin’s expectations.
The unexpected part was that not only Dia’s 3D avatar but also the other members’ avatars were all tested.
It felt strange when an avatar other than Dia moved as Ha-eun’s head nodded.
Among them, testing the avatar of Cream, Ha-eun’s favorite VTuber, felt particularly ambiguous.
Even though it was just a test, it felt like Cream and Ha-eun had become one, making her tingle from head to toe.
‘Hmm…’
And so, even a small gesture was done very carefully.
Then, from Ji Hyemin, who was looking at Ha-eun curiously, came a request for an “Illusion” performance.
“I’ll play the MR, so can you try it for a bit?”
“Ah, yes.”
To cut to the chase, there were no major flaws in the 3D avatar.
There were no errors between Ha-eun’s movements and the 3D avatar’s movements.
However, after one demonstration performance.
“Uh, Hyemin unnie.”
“?”
“There’s something I’ve wanted to try since the 3D avatar was made. Can I try it?”
From Ha-eun, who was still wearing Dia’s 3D avatar, came a curious request.
“Is it something weird?”
“No, it’s not weird.”
“Well, okay. Go ahead.”
With a mix of curiosity and bewilderment, they watched Ha-eun in the center of the studio.
And then, just a few seconds later.
-Whoosh!
Ha-eun jumped in place and did a backflip.
Almost simultaneously, Ji Hyemin’s words got stuck.
But what Ha-eun wanted to do wasn’t just a backflip.
-Swish… whoosh!
-Thud.
“Uh… grand jeté! Is the avatar doing a grand jeté too?”
“Uh, uh… it’s doing it well, but…”
Aren’t you tired?
To that genuinely curious question, Ha-eun, still in a handstand, said she was fine.
But there was one thing Ha-eun hadn’t thought of.
-Squeak.
-Thud.
“Uh, unnie. If Ha-eun is here… uh, uh?!”
Lee Dongjin, who had just entered the studio, had to quickly turn his head upon seeing Ha-eun in the middle of the studio.
Because what was flipped wasn’t just Ha-eun’s body.
“I’m sorry!”
The T-shirt Ha-eun was wearing had completely fallen due to gravity.
In other words, Ha-eun’s clear 11-line abs were on full display.
Luckily, she was wearing pants, so a bigger disaster was avoided.
“……Just give me a moment.”
“Yes, yes!”
Ha-eun’s face was already on the verge of exploding with embarrassment.
Ji Hyemin, who had witnessed the whole scene, was trying not to laugh.
“If there’s a broadcast accident later, the first thing people will see is Dia’s abs~.”
“…That’s too mean…”